Accessibility Statement
Accessibility Statement
Accessibility was considered throughout the design, development, and review of Palomar Guide to OER and Pressbooks. The goal was to create a resource that can be accessed and used by as many readers as possible, including people who use assistive technologies.
Rather than treating accessibility as a final check before publication, accessibility practices were incorporated throughout the development of the book.
What We Did to Support Accessibility
To support accessibility, this book was developed using the following practices:
- Heading structure: headings were created using a logical hierarchy to communicate the organization of each chapter;
- Descriptive links: link text was written to describe the destination or purpose of the link rather than relying on phrases such as “click here”;
- Images: meaningful images include alternative text or other appropriate descriptions, while decorative images are identified so they can be ignored by assistive technology;
- Tables: tables are used for tabular information rather than page layout and are structured with appropriate headers;
- Lists: bulleted and numbered information is created using actual list structures rather than manually typed symbols or numbers;
- Color: color is not intended to be the only way information or meaning is communicated;
- Meaningful structure: textboxes, headings, lists, and other design elements are used consistently to help readers understand and navigate the content;
- Linked resources: accessibility was considered when selecting and linking to external resources, although Palomar College cannot guarantee the accessibility of content maintained by external organizations;
- Multiple formats: Pressbooks allows the resource to be accessed as a webbook and exported into additional formats, giving readers options for how they access the content; and
- Accessibility review: chapters were reviewed during development and checked using the accessibility tools available in Palomar Pressbooks.
Automated Checking Is Only Part of Accessibility Review
Automated accessibility checkers can identify many technical problems, but they cannot determine whether a resource is accessible in every context.
Human review was also used to consider whether headings accurately represent the organization of the content, links make sense in context, alternative text communicates the purpose of images, instructions are understandable, and the overall structure supports navigation and comprehension.
Automated tools help find problems. Human judgment is still necessary to determine whether the resource actually works for readers.
Accessibility Is an Ongoing Process
This book is designed to be revised and improved over time. New content, links, media, and other changes can introduce new accessibility barriers, so accessibility will continue to be considered as the resource is maintained and updated.
Readers who encounter an accessibility barrier or have difficulty accessing any part of this resource are encouraged to contact Palomar College’s Academic Technology Resource Center (ATRC) for accessibility support. Identifying barriers helps us improve this resource for current and future readers.
Creating an Accessibility Statement for Your Own OER
This accessibility statement is also an example of what you can provide in an OER you create. Rather than simply stating that your resource is “accessible,” describe the practices you used to support accessibility.
Consider identifying:
- how the resource was designed: including headings, links, images, tables, color, media, and other accessibility considerations;
- how accessibility was reviewed: including both automated accessibility checking and human review;
- what formats are available: when readers have multiple ways to access the resource;
- any known limitations: particularly when the resource includes third-party or externally maintained content; and
- how readers can report a barrier: provide a clear way for someone to request assistance or let you know when something is not working.
Accessibility is not established by the statement itself. The statement provides transparency about the work you have done, acknowledges that accessibility requires ongoing attention, and gives readers a way to help you identify barriers that remain.
For additional guidance, visit Palomar College’s Academic Technology Resource Center (ATRC) accessibility resources and support.
